Gordon has welcomed the news that Blackpool Carers have been awarded funding for a project to help carers and their families lower their energy bills.



The project named ‘Keeping Carers Warm’ will last 12 months and is aimed at carers with children up to the age of 18 in the household and who are experiencing fuel poverty.

Gordon said: "It is great news that Blackpool Carers have secured this funding to help local carers with their household energy bills.

"Through the casework I receive, I know all too well of the problems many families in Blackpool are facing around fuel poverty.

"From my own personal family experience of being a part time carer, I know what a big difference this kind of support will make to improving the lives of carers in the town."

Fuel poverty is defined as more than ten per cent of the total household income being spent on energy bills.

Chris Lear of the Keeping Carers Warm project said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this money from the Scottish Power Energy People Trust Fund and to be working in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau, which will enable the project to locate and empower those in fuel poverty; the funding is very timely given the time of year.

"Fuel poverty is generally a result of three elements: low household income, low energy efficiency standard of a property and high energy costs, as part of the project we will be tackling all of these areas. We will also be signposting to other services in Blackpool when appropriate."

For more information about ‘Keeping Carers Warm’ project as are other services in Blackpool, e-mail admin@blackpoolcarers.org or by telephoning 01253 393748.